A bird with eyes that look as though they have been plucked straight from a sunflower sounds like something out of a cartoon. But nature, as it turns out, has quite an eye for drama.
With a striking yellow-orange ring surrounding each eye, this feathered creature looks as though it has gone all out with its eye makeup.
Is this unusual-looking bird real, or is another episode of the internet and AI deceiving mankind?
Verdict:
True
The white-crested helmetshrike (Prionops plumatus) is a real bird native to sub-Saharan Africa, and its distinctive eye markings have earned it comparisons to the bright, petal-like appearance of a sunflower.
Unlike the dark eyes and subtle eye-rings seen in many birds, the adult white-crested helmetshrike has pale greyish eyes surrounded by conspicuous yellow-orange skin with a scalloped, flower-like edge. This unusual feature gives the bird an almost sunflower-like appearance.
The bird has other distinctive features, too. Its predominantly black-and-white plumage is complemented by a prominent white crest on its head, which can appear untidy or curl forward. It also has a conspicuous white stripe on its wings and white markings on its tail.
Despite its eye-catching appearance, the white-crested helmetshrike is relatively small, measuring about 19cm to 25cm in length.
Males and females look similar, while younger birds tend to have duller plumage, shorter crests and lack the striking yellow-orange eye markings of adults.
The species is found across a broad area of sub-Saharan Africa, including countries such as Kenya, Tanzania, South Africa, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
Its habitats include dry and moist savannas, wooded areas and shrublands. It may also venture into gardens in some areas outside the breeding season.
The white-crested helmetshrike is a social bird that typically moves around in small, active groups.
These birds forage among foliage and on the ground for food, communicating with one another through frequent calls as they move through their territory.
Some birds turn heads with colourful feathers; this one does it with its eyes. The white-crested helmetshrike proves that when it comes to unusual looks, nature can certainly hold its own.
References:
1. Helmetshrikes: characters of the bushveld
2. Animalia - White-crested Helmetshrike
https://animalia.bio/white-
3. IUCN Red List - White-crested Helmetshrike
https://www.iucnredlist.org/
